When Daniel Funkhouser returned from a study abroad trip to Florence, Italy, this summer, he brought back four self-portraits and a sketchbook full of memories.
Funkhouser, a painting senior, had intended to study figure drawing but learned so much more on the trip.
"I see him showing a range of emotion that I've never really seen him put together before in one composition," said his father, Lindy Funkhouser.
Daniel Funkhouser is one of 10 students who will display their Florence-inspired pieces at an exhibit this week.
Running Sept. 12-16 at the Step Gallery, "The Florence Experience" displays students' artistic reactions to the culture and history of Florence.
Funkhouser's self-portraits are inspired by classical figures of Italian art, and each captures a different emotion he felt on the trip.
For instance, his Bacchus portrait illustrates a lighthearted, party feeling and recalls Roman mythology. Then there's his more contemplative portrait, capturing the awe he felt studying his favorite artists, Botticelli and Caravaggio, up close.
While the students varied in artistic skill, each left Florence with works unique to their interests and experiences.
Ashley Longfellow, a health senior, said she is glad she studied abroad and took the drawing class in Florence.
"I haven't touched my artistic side in about seven years. It was nice to explore that again," she said.
Longfellow's exhibit piece features a collage of wine labels that she burned, giving them an antique, rustic feel. She said it captures the sense of importance wine has in Italian culture.
"Seeing our experiences put down can teach and inspire others. Students might see something that sparks their interest," said Longfellow.
Painting senior Jesus Vidal Pacheco wanted to focus on historic pieces, particularly sculpture. He said the best part of the trip was the humbling experience of walking alongside history.
"It was interesting walking in Florence and imagining it in the 15th century - walking the same streets Michelangelo and Leonardo walked in their lifetimes," he said.
Inspired by the famous "Gates of Paradise" by 15th-century artist Lorenzo Ghiberti, each student created a simulated "doorway," a collection of works hung in the shape of a door.
These doorways primarily feature drawing, which students studied on the trip. They also feature photography, collage and quilting techniques, suiting the individual tastes and skills of each student artist.
Painting and drawing professor Ellen Murray Meissinger accompanied the students to Florence and organized the exhibit.
"It's a great way of publicizing the program and acknowledging the hard work of our students," she said. "[The exhibit and trip] were very popular and well-received two years ago, so we decided to do it again."
Meissinger said the next art trip to Florence will be in 2007.
Reach the reporter at ann.censky@asu.edu.
